Electrical switch



June 18, 1935. J. ROSEN I 2,005,207

ELECTRICAL SWITCH L Filed Nov. 25, 19s2 INVENTOR- Jzssfln Rosana BY I W O? a: AT T oRNEYs'.

Patented June 18, 1935 I ELECTRICAL SWITCH Joseph Rosen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Peer Electric Co. Inc., Long Island poration of New York City, N. 'Y., a cor- Application November 23, 1932, Serial No. 643,978

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to electrical switches of the type used for domestic or household purposes;

An object of the presentinvention is-toprovide 5 a new, simple and efficient make-and-break construction for electrical switches. A further object of the invention is to provide a make-and-break co nstruction utilizing a minimum number of parts. I -A still further object of the invention is to provide in an electrical switch a make-and-break construction composed of a minimum number of parts'f'of such simplicity that the cost of the switch is materially reduced. I

In accordance with the present invention, an electrical switch is provided with a make-and; break construction made up of a minimum of parts." In actuality, the make-and-break bridge member is composed of asubstantially U-shaped contact strip which is moved into contact making position and contact breaking position by means of, a spring, the action of which is controlled through the agency of a handle'member constructed ntirely of insulating material. In order that the device be formed of the most inexpensive material and at the same time possess the utmost efficiency, use is madeof a single pin about which the make-and-break bridge member rotates and about which the insulating handle al so. rotates. Thepin is so constructed that the bridge member and the handle are'held thereon solelyby the tension of the spring which serves to actuate the bridge member, with the result that upper and lower bearings, bushings and other objectional features of prior structures are eliminated. The manner of accomplishing thissimple construction consists of providing the upright pin with a pair of spaced circumferential grooves. The U-shaped make-and-break part is provided'nearthe end of eachleg thereof with an opening of sufiicient' diameter to permit the member to be inserted on'the upright pin. The legsof the U-shaped member are spaced apart a distance suflicient to accommodate the handle member therebetween. A springis mounted between the connecting part of the legs of the U -shaped member and the handle in such fashion as to'normally force this connecting part away from the upright pin." Due to this forcing away from the pin of the upright member, the legsof the U-shaped member will fit in the circumferential grooves of the upright pin so firmly as toprevent the U-shaped member and the handle from being removed from the pin while the spring is in proper place.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the same, wherein,

Fig. Yl-isa sectional elevation of a switch embodying the present invention. a

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the lines 2 of Fig. 1. t V I I Fig. 3 is. a section taken on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the make-and-breakbridge member in one position.

' Figme is a view similar to-Fig. ash owing the bridge memberin the opposite position and showing in dotted lines another position'of the bridge andof the handle.

' Fig. 51 is a perspective view of theicomponent' parts of the make-and-brealr. construction before the same have been assembled.

Referringnow to the drawing and particularly to ,Fig. 1, it! indicates the shell of an electric switch of conventional character. [Such switch has included therein thernake-and break mechanism in accordance with the present invention, but it is to be understood that this make-andbreak mechanism can be utilized in connection with switches of character other than'that illustrated, for example, in toggle wallswitchesfin line switches and switches of various types. It is to be understood that this invention in its broadest aspects is concerned with makeandbreak mechanism and not with the particular type of switch illustrated, since such mechanism iscapable of wide use. In the switch illustrated, how ever, the construction consists of upper and lower casings I! and t2 respectively, composed of some suitable insulating material; In one of the casings contact members M are mounted to one of which a contact strip is attached, 'suchstrip l5 having secured to one end-thereof one electrical conductor IS. The other contact nected to one end thereof a spring contact memher i! which serves as one side of the circuit which is closed by the make-and-break bridge.

Another contact i8 is situated in the. lower "half,

of the casing lzin such position as to be spaced from the upper member I'l. This contact [8 extends to a binding post H] to which a second electrical conductor is attached.

Extending substantiallyvertically upwardly of M has conmediately above the material of the casing l2 with an enlarged circumferential shoulder and immediately above such shoulder is provided with a circumferential groove 2?. Spaced upwardly on the pin from groove 27 is a similar circumferential groove 28. The purpose of such grooves will be explained hereinafter.

A member which bridges the two contacts i! and I8 and which in actuality opens or closes a circuit through these contacts, consists of a strip of material bent into substantially U-shaped form as indicated at 30. In this form, the bridge member is composed of an upper leg 3|, a lower leg 32, and a connecting part or base 33. The upper and lower legs 3| and 32 are provided near their extremities with aligned openings 34 and 35 respectively. The base portion 33 is provided centrally with an opening 35. In conjunction with the make-and-break member 30, use is made of a handle 31 made up of some suitable insulating material such as a phenol condensate material. As shown in Fig. 5, this handle 31 is composed of an enlarged hub portion 38 provided centrally with an aperture 39 and having at its extremity a. cut-out portion 40, so cut as to provide distinct shoulders 4| and 42. A bar portion 43 connects the hub to a roughened handle member 44.

The remaining parts constituting the makeand-break assembly comprise a coiled spring 45 and a spring pusher 48 of such shape that a portion thereof may be nested within the coiled spring while an enlarged portion thereof, as shown at 41, serves as a pusher to compress the spring.

With these parts in mind, it will be apparent that the same parts can be assembled as shown, and which is substantially as follows: The handle 31 is so positioned relative to the U-shaped member that openings 34, and 39 are in alignment. At the same time, the spring 45 is positioned as shown in the various figures of the drawing, that is with the member 46 introduced into the opening 36 and the enlarged head 47 seated in the recess 40 of hub 38. With the parts assembled as just indicated. the entire group are inserted over and out upon the upright pin 25. The two slots 2! and 28 are spaced apart a distance equal to the, distance between the two legs 3| and 32, and as the grooves 27 and 28 are of such width as to accommodate the material in these legs, when the assembled parts have been pushed down upon the pin 25, until the lower leg 32 strikes the shoulder 26', the tendency of the spring isto push the part 33 of the bridge away from the pin, thereby forcing the outer part of ,theleg openings into the two grooves 2i and 28. In this position the entire assembly is held firmly on the pin andcan not be withdrawn therefrom until the openings 34, 35 and 38 are properly aligned relative to the pin 25, which is almost impossible to accomplish unless the spring 45 be first removed.

With the parts assembled in the housing of the switch, the spring will push the end of the enlarged head 41 of the compressor against the base of either one of the shoulders 4| or 42, thereby forcing the U-shaped member to assume either a make or break position. For example, in the arrangement shown in heavy lines in Fig. 4, the bridge member and the handle are shown in the break position, while the position of the handle of the spring and ofthe spring compressor for changing the position of the bridge member is shown in dotted lines. In the off position or break position, the base of the bridge rests against an insulating shoulder of the switch housing while the enlarged portion 41 of the spring compressor rests against the shoulder 42 of the handle member. If it is desired to move the bridge to the make position, the roughened part 44 of the handle is moved in the direction opposite through its present position, that is, into and abridging the position shown in Fig. 3. t about the time the handle is shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 4, it will be seen that the shoulder 42 (also in dotted lines) serves to kick the enlarged portion 41 toward the shoulder 4 l. Of course, during the movement of the handle, the spring is placed under considerable compression with the result that as it passes the point of maximum compression and is given a kick by shoulder 42, it will snap the enlarged part 4'! into contact with the shoulder 41 and at the same time will impart to the bridge a very rapid pivotal movement. Such movement is sufficient to snapthe bridge into position,bridging the contacts 5? and i8 and completing a circuit through the bridge member. Movement of the handle back to the position shown in Fig. 4 will cause a correspondingly snap movement of the bridge to break its contact with the contacts I! and I8 so quickly as to prevent all chances of arcing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel make-andbreak construction which is of utmost simplicity and yet which possesses great efficiency. By providing a single pivotal member in the nature of a pin extending substantially vertically from the switch housing and having the pin provided with circumferential grooves, it is possible to mount thereon in pivotal relation thereto both a handle member and a bridge or a make-andbreak member. The grooves as before explained, serve as seats or rests for the legs of the bridge, preventing removal of these legs until the openings therein are in concentric alignment with the pin itself. Moreover, the handle member is also in pivotal relation to the pin'being mounted thereon between the legs of the bridge. Since the bridge can not be readily removed, it follows of course, that the handle itself has no greater chances to being removed. By this simple construction, it is possible to eliminate bearings at each end of the handle, to eliminate the costly insulation of such bearings, and it is also possible to make the entire handle itself of a single composition preferably of a phenol condensate. Furthermore, the device possesses merit in that it is capable of rapid assembly during the process of manufacture, all parts being of the simplest character. On account of this simplicity both of the parts and of manufacture of parts and of assembly, the device can be produced at considerable less cost than constructions heretofore used.

While as before mentioned, the device has been illustrated in a single embodiment in connection with a switch of particular character, it is to be understood that this make-and-break construction can be used advantageously in various other types of switches, in view of which it is to be understood that the claims are to be so construed and the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the claims and not by the illustrated embodiment.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch, a housing, a pair of spaced contacts therein, a pin extending substantially perpendicularly from a part of said housing,'said pin being provided with spaced cirforce parts of the walls of said leg openings into said grooves.

2. In an electric switch, a housing, a pair of spaced contacts therein, a pin extending substantially perpendicularly from a part of said housing, said pin being provided with spaced circum ferential grooves, a contact bridge member of substantially U-shape having aligned openings in the legs thereof for insertion over said pin, a

handle having an enlarged hub pivotally mounted on said pin between said legs, said hub being provided with a recess, a spring compressor seating in said recess, and having a portion passing through an opening in the connecting portion of said bridge member, and a spring surrounding a portion of said spring compressor to force partsof the walls of said leg openings into said grooves to retain said bridge member and said handle on said pin.

3. In an electric switch, a housing, a pair of spaced contacts therein, a pin extending substantially perpendicularly from a part of said housing, said pin being providedwith spaced circumferential grooves, a contact bridge member of substantially U-shape having aligned openings in the legs thereof for insertion over said pin, a

handle having an enlarged hub pivotally mounted on said pin between said legs, said hub being provided with a recess, a spring compressor seating in saidrecess, and having a portion passing through an opening in the connecting portion of said bridge member, and a spring surrounding a portion of said spring compressor to force parts of thewalls of said leg openings into said grooves,

said spring being so positioned relative to said bridge member and said handle that movement of the handle compresses said spring and causes pivotal movement of said bridge member. when the handle is moved beyond the point at which the spring is under maximum compression. JOSEPH ROSEN. 

